Siblings create app to help prevent suicide

About the solution

The app works by and the current GPS location of the user up to five pre-selected contacts. It is a “panic button” that allows the user to get support via text, phone call and GPS location.

Hannah was dealing with depression and anxiety, after being diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and then being bullied.

“Initially we created this app because I needed it. After I was diagnosed with POTS, I was bullied. I developed depression and bad anxiety and started to self-harm. During a suicide attempt, my mom came in and found me. She held me, and from that chaos, I got the idea. We call this app “my little Phoenix” because it’s something good arising from the ashes”, the app developer said.

The siblings built the app themselves. Charlie was always interested in programming and took online lessons, and Hannah went to a coding camp. Then they did some research, and realised that a lot of people were in need. “We went to the library often during summer break doing research on mental health. It was eye-opening. We created the app because we needed it, but the more research we did the more we found out how many people needed it. One in five kids have depression, and that’s just the kids who have talked about it or asked for help”, Hannah explained.

The app is free (with some paid features), it’s available for Android and iOS and the developers plan to expand it to other countries by translating in more languages.

notOK is endorsed by Born This Way Foundation and the American Association of Suicidology.

This solution shall not include mention to the use of drugs, chemicals or biologicals (including food); invasive devices; offensive, commercial or inherently dangerous content. This solution was not medically validated. Proceed with caution! If you have any doubts, please consult with a health professional.

About the author

Hannah Lucas, born in 2002 and Charlie Lucas, born in 2005, in the USA, are siblings and they’ve launched, in 2018, notOK - a mobile app to help prevent suicide and deal with mental illness, after the girl struggled with her mental health.